MN DNR Weekly Report 3/23/15

[Lee Borgersen]

MN DNR Weekly Report for March 23, 2015
 
  District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports spring fishing on Rainy River has started however limited success has been seen by fishermen. People are reminded new fishing license is needed, along with current boat registration and boat safety equipment in good working condition. Spring beaver trapping activities were monitored and a few animal complaints were handled. People are reminded that burn permits are needed as people feel the need to burn. Enforcement action for week included no current angling license and insufficient number of PFDs.

ADVETISEMENTCO Jim Van Asch (International Falls) spent time monitoring the angling activity on the Rainy River with the river opening up more each day. CO Van Asch spoke at a firearms safety class in International Falls. He also assisted in several commercial inspections conducted throughout the local area. Enforcement action was taken for angling and watercraft violations.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) Officer spent most of the week training on the new records management system. Officer worked the Trout Portage water skips with Officer Bozovsky. There was a good size group out on Saturday, and enforcement action was taken on careless operation, no ATV registration, fail to display registration, and destroy beaver dam. There are still anglers going into Trout Lake and they are still having some success.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) worked the fish house removal deadline and the associated litter left on the ice. The good news is that all houses were removed and with better than average compliance on removing litter. The officer issued a Wetland Conservation Act Resource Protection Notification for a wetland fill violation. The officer worked Vermilion Lake snowmobile water skipping, with several registration violations from a trio of types of machines, i.e., snowmobiles, ATVs and OHMs. Underage consumption was also encountered. Closer to home, the officer changed hats for a cowboy hat as he came upon a woman that was bucked off of her horse. The horse had nothing to do with it and was last seen a couple miles from where he decided he wanted to remain free. Other enforcement action was taken on littering and OHM and ATV violations.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) found many anglers out enjoying the nice weather and limits of Crappie were seen being caught. Violations of angling with extra lines were found. Fredin taught the law portion to students at the Palo and Hoyt Lakes FAS classes. Time was spent beginning the process of conducting a background investigation on a potential CO candidate. 

Ray - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports fishing activity has moved from mainly trout to crappie angling with most anglers reporting fair to good success. Ice loss on the lakes has slowed down but areas with current continue to be dangerous. Violations included operating an unregistered snowmobile, and operating a snowmobile with no snowmobile safety certificate.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked on a couple fish house litter cases and dealt with some late season snowmobile complaints. Officer began putting away winter equipment and checked a few remaining BWCAW trout and crappie fishermen. The Babbitt vintage snowmobile ride happened like it does every year, but the snow left just a few days too early for a good trail ride. We’re back to the cold temps for a little while, but any day now the warm conditions are going to come back and ice conditions will deteriorate quickly. Bring safety equipment such as ice picks and a rope, tell someone where you are going, and don’t take any foolish chances.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that most trout anglers have given up on winter. Many trout lakes checked were empty over the past weekend. A few snowmobilers were encountered in the backcountry and a couple of guys were back out looking for moose sheds as the snow starts to melt exposing the dark antlers. One person had to be reminded that fishing licenses expired at the end of February and another that snowmobile sticker actually have to be displayed on the snowmobile

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled snowmobile trails and backroads and found conditions to be very deteriorated and few riders out and about. The officer also checked lakes and anglers; colder conditions have improved travel on most lakes. Manning also conducted commercial inspections at area businesses, issued a car kill deer permit and followed up on a wolf depredation case.   

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports all fish houses were removed by the deadline. Some litter was left behind warranting enforcement action. Lots of people are out looking for crappies. Enforcement action included angle without a license and litter. Time was spent organizing and transferring evidence, and work began on a background investigation. A vehicle went through the ice on Birch Lake, so be careful.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area trapping complaints. Much of the week was spent at Camp Ripley working on the Division’s 1187 shotguns, and training on a new computer system.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent the week at Camp Ripley armoring 1187 shotguns. The Officer received training on the new records management system and had service done on his patrol vehicle.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV, angling, and littering complaints during the week. Most lakes still had good ice up north for late season trout fishermen but anglers had to work hard to get the fish to bite. Many folks have taken to the woods for the annual harvest of maple syrup.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers on area lakes, took care of an injured deer call, checked several commercial activities, and patrolled for illegal off road vehicle use.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, worked the TIP trailer at the Grand Rapids Sports Show, responded to grass fire calls and assisted the local PD in searching for a suspect who has multiple warrants and fled from detox. In one incident CO Fairbanks and his K-9 partner Si investigated an over limit of fish. K-9 Si was able to locate a bucket of fish that were somehow forgotten about in a trailer. Enforcement action was taken for over limit of crappie, angle without license and improper display of OHV registration.

CO Sarah Sindelir (Grand Rapids) spent time checking anglers this past week. She also assisted the county with a garbage complaint. She did follow-up on a possible wetlands violation and checked for ATV activity in closed areas. Possession limits and daily limits are the same for most fish species. For example, once a daily limit is reached for crappies, an angler cannot continue to keep (possess) more crappies. For specific limits, consult the fishing regulations. Enforcement action was taken for angling violations.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ice angling activity with the ice still plenty thick to get out and find some panfish. Enforcement action was taken for dumping garbage on state land, angling without a license and operating an unregistered ATV. CO Sutherland also worked the home show in Grand Rapids where the wall of shame was present.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs and trappers. He also attended meetings and worked the home sport show during the week.

CO Shawn Wichmann (Hill City) spent the week monitoring fishing activity. Reports were completed as well as other required paperwork. Wichmann took a call about a wolf that was possibly shot that is still under investigation.

CO John Velsvaag (NE Region ATV officer) checked ATVers and anglers this past week. CO Velsvaag took several calls on illegally stored equipment on public lands and fish house litter on lakes and at public accesses.

District 8 - Duluth area

WREO Mike Scott (NE MN) investigated two new Public Waters violations were designated trout streams were impacted by dredging with a backhoe and changing the course of the stream to remove beaver dams. Another WCA violation was investigated and found to be not an issue. An AIS law enforcement training session was conducted with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. The training brought them up to speed for enforcing state AIS laws.

CO Randy Hanzal (Duluth) reports time was spent checking pan fishermen on area lakes. A recommendation for additional signage was made to a large landowner who is having trouble with trespassers using ATVs. Verification was made that the last few remaining fish shelters have been removed and so has associated blocking debris. The officer also received a few calls from people wanting to report bears in their neighborhood. Please be sure all garbage and bird feeders are taken in or expect a visit from a hungry bear during the next few months.

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent the majority of the week working fishing enforcement along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Several people were also checked while crappie fishing through the ice continues on area inland lakes. ATV and OHM activity has also picked up around the Duluth area. Officer Duncan also completed several commercial license inspections. Many calls were also fielded and returned during the week.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) worked a career fair at FDL College where high school students were given information on the job and duties of a Conservation Officer. Commercial inspections of local minnow retail shops were conducted where one violation of an expired permit was found. A complaint of a waters violation was investigated on an area lake where a large amount of trees and brush was left on the ice. The people who put it out were required to remove it all before the ice melted and it fell into the lake. OHV activity was worked in the area with enforcement action being taken for allowing unlawful juvenile operation, juvenile with no helmet, equipment and registration violations. One report of a wildfire resulted in enforcement action to the landowner for failing to keep a camp fire from spreading and burning prohibited materials. One complaint of a dog chasing deer was received and looked into. The owner of the dog is still being sought.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked off-highway vehicle and fire enforcement throughout the week. CO Humphrey continued training and went live with the Divisions new records management system. CO Humphrey assisted CO Staples at an annual area high school career fair held at Fond Du Lac College. CO Humphrey completed a commercial inspection resulting in an expired license violation. CO Humphrey received calls on a dead bald eagle and failure to remove a fish house shelter.

CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) spent much of the week checking anglers along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Complaints of ATV’s on snowmobile trails and private land were investigated. The officer responded to numerous phone calls regarding injured or troublesome wildlife. Officer Schmidt also attended training at Camp Ripley. 

Lake Superior Marine Unit

Sgt. Keith Olson (Marine Unit) checked anglers along the North Shore where he observed loopers and some coho being caught at the French River. Stoney Point was also giving up coho salmon and some loopers. He reports calls regarding timberwolves are beginning to increase.

CO Troy Ter Meer (Marine Unit) attended RMS training. He also worked angling, boat and water, ATV, commercial and OHM enforcement. Enforcement action was taken for angling, ATV and OHM violations.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked some open water shore anglers as the ice receded at their feet. Rivers are starting to flow, but the ice frozen to the river bed will delay any fish run for some time. A dumping complaint was checked, with easy identification made of the person responsible. Another meeting was attended for the renewal of the Lake Superior Fisheries Management Plan. Enforcement action was taken for ATV and litter violations.